Do you have something around you that brings you luck? Something like a rabbit’s foot, a lucky lighter, or a pair of socks that you always put on before an exam or a job interview? And be honest: does it work?
People have been relying on lucky charms and various rituals to earn the favour of fate, especially when playing at a casino. Gambling is surrounded by many myths, and we’re planning to debunk some of them today.
Myth 1: Lucky Charms and Superstitions
The lucky rabbit’s foot, the lucky lighter or the lucky pair of socks that you put on before a job interview has an official name: amulet. Meaning “lucky charm”, amulets are objects that are believed to protect from harm and bring good fortune to the bearer. And the science of statistics has disproven their effectiveness, just like that of the many lucky rituals you see at a casino.
Having a lucky silver dollar in your pocket or blowing on the dice before throwing doesn’t make you any luckier. If anything, it only makes you feel better – much like a placebo.
Myth 2: Hot and Cold Streaks
Did you ever see someone who didn’t want to stand up from a slot machine because they were having a “hot streak”? And someone who blamed “cold streaks” for their lack of winnings at a gaming table? No, there’s no invisible force driving the ball on the roulette table or stopping the reels of a slot machine at a non-winning combination. This is especially true at online casinos, where every round is decided by a provably fair random number generator.
So, whenever you feel like you have a winning streak, walk away while you’re still winning – you have no way of knowing whether your next round will be a winner.
Myth 3: Systems to Beat the House
Roulette was a major hit in late 19th century France. Most people enjoyed the thrill of the game, while some felt like there was order in chaos, and that they could find a guiding path that would help them break the bank. While roulette didn’t make any millionaires, it did wonders for the science of statistics.
Casinos are not charities – they are companies that offer their players a service, and they are supposed to be profitable. The operator’s profits are built into the odds of each and every game. While big wins do happen, even million-dollar, life-changing ones, the casino will always win in the end.
Myth 4: Casinos Alter Payouts and Manipulate Games
Casinos always win in the end – but they don’t cheat, even if there are voices constantly accusing them of just that. On the one hand, casinos are required to be transparent about their practices. On the other, they are under constant scrutiny by regulators. Shady practices like altering payouts and manipulating the games could very easily cost them their license, which would make it impossible for them to operate.
Myth 5: Online Casinos Are Rigged
Back in the early 2000s, online casinos popped up like mushrooms after the rain. At the same time, regulators were not up to the task, failing to put in place all the necessary checks and balances. As such, many of the online casinos at the time were bad actors. At this time, online casinos became synonymous with fraud. But times have changed, and regulations have been updated, so this is no longer the case.
Today’s online casinos operate under constant scrutiny. Regulators, industry groups, user protection advocates, and various NGOs that promote responsible gambling are keeping an eye on them, making sure that your online gambling experience is always as safe and fair as possible.
So, next time you step into a casino, online or otherwise, forget about the rabbit’s foot or the “foolproof” roulette system some shady guy is selling online. Simply enjoy the game, and make sure you do it in a responsible manner!